Thursday, December 05, 2013

STATE
CAPITOL, PHOENIX – House Minority Leader Chad Campbell, D-Phoenix
(District 24), today urged Secretary of State Ken Bennett, who is currently the
acting governor, to call a special legislative session to provide emergency
funding for Child Protective Services. Campbell also pressed Bennett to demand
the resignation of Department of Economic Security Director Clarence Carter.

“While
Gov. Brewer is in Hawaii, Secretary of State Ken Bennett is the acting
governor. He should call the Legislature into special session immediately so we
can begin to fix our state’s broken child-welfare system.

“Under
the leadership of Director Carter, CPS failed to investigate more than 6,000
reports of child abuse and neglect. As acting governor, Bennett should step up
to the plate and take action. He’s done it before. In Nov.
2011, he called the Legislature into special session to promote a political
agenda. This time he should use his authority to promote the safety of Arizona
children.

“The
bottom line is CPS needs more resources to make certain this kind of disaster
does not occur again. That will take legislative action, and my colleagues and
I are ready to work. We look forward to implementing the recommendations of the
newly formed CARE Team, after it completes its investigation. However, we know
the agency needs more funding now. Director Carter already stated he will ask
for additional
staff in next year’s budget. We can’t afford to wait that long.

“While
he is governor, Bennett should also demand Director Carter’s resignation. Gov.
Brewer has chosen to protect her appointee rather than hold him accountable for
failing Arizona kids. That kind of cronyism has put children in harm’s way, and
it must stop. We need someone with both the experience and the credibility to
right this ship.”